Pundits assess Sanchez celebration

Author:
Niven Marston
December 30, 2017

Sky Sports News duo Thierry Henry and Graeme Souness have discussed Arsenal’s divided celebrations after Alexis Sanchez scored against Crystal Palace on Thursday, saying they believe things are not well between players at the club and the Chilean.

Sanchez’s situation at the Emirates looks continuously bleak, and as the January transfer window looms it is looking increasingly likely he will leave the club, especially with the way in which the team celebrated his goal.

Sanchez looked as if he had to urge his team-mates over when scoring their second in the 3-2 win against Palace, and when other Arsenal stars eventually congratulated him one by one further down the pitch, he gave Lacazette a strange look.

After the game, both Henry and Souness discussed the incident on Sky Sports, and said that it is clear there is unrest in the dressing room.

Graeme Souness said: “You’re in the moment, you’ve scored a goal, you’re elated. I think it’s clear, it tells you that there’s a dynamic going on in that dressing room which suggests it’s not well.”

Henry had a different take on it, saying Sanchez’s Arsenal teammates should have celebrated with him regardless of the situation: “You’re not here for Alexis Sanchez, you’re here for Arsenal. Arsenal scored. Go and celebrate. Whoever does it, we don’t care about that, go and celebrate with your team-mate.”

However, after Sanchez’s second, the whole team went over to celebrate, and Henry agreed that it was a much better sight for fans and reflected better on the club.

“That’s way better. Jack [Wilshere] went there because he gave the assist, but I don’t know. With the first goal, maybe we’re trying to read too much into it. I noticed it because Alexis Sanchez made me notice it, he turned and was like ‘Hang on a minute I’m alone here!’ It was kind of weird,” said the Arsenal legend.